PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Fouche (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Fouche

180 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mike Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, James Fouche!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Fouche drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Smith is looking for a sweep.
Smith sneaks back into half guard.
Fouche is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Smith manages to get to full guard.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fouche.
Fouche postures up and lands a big shot to Smith's brow.
Fouche lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fouche throws an elbow that misses. Smith uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fouche's guard. Nice move by Smith!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fouche is looking to stand up but Smith isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith gets to his feet. Fouche looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Fouche shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fouche is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Smith avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fouche.
Fouche is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Fouche really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Smith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fouche lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Fouche thows a huge punch but Smith dodges it nicely.
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Fouche lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fouche's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fouche's back!
Fouche is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Smith is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Fouche knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Fouche for a finish.
Fouche is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fouche is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Smith tries to keep control of the position but Fouche is staying busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fouche holding both Smith 's hands and preventing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Fouche dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smith defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fouche.
A looping hook to the body misses from Smith. Fouche does a little dance to reset his feet.

Fouche darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Smith tries to kick Fouche off but Fouche keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Smith is trying to maintain the position but Fouche is very close to passing his half guard.
Nice strikes from Fouche there.
Fouche working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fouche not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fouche connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
James Fouche has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fouche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fouche thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Fouche lands strikes from half guard.

Fouche is looking for a kimura but Smith is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Fouche to get the leverage.
Ground and pound from Fouche.
Fouche is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Fouche is looking for a kimura here.
Smith trying to hold on to Fouche's head to control him but Fouche postures up.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fouche scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fouche winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fouche connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Fouche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fouche winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Fouche slips a nice elbow through Smith's hands, connecting with Smith's forehead.
Fouche lands strikes from half guard.
Fouche lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fouche drops an elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Fouche in his half guard.
Fouche is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fouche wants to free his trapped foot but Smith is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Smith taking some punishment here, with Fouche in his half guard.
Fouche lands with a punch from half guard.
Fouche working Smith over with strikes.

Fouche is looking for a kimura here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fouche lands a nice short elbow.
Fouche trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Fouche working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fouche takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fouche looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Smith with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Fouche scores with a couple of nice shots.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fouche scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Smith is rocked!
Fouche scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fouche wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Fouche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Fouche connects with a nice short shot to Smith's temple.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Smith on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fouche lands a nice short elbow.
Fouche seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Fouche lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Fouche showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Fouche missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Fouche postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith looking for a sweep. Not yet Smith, not yet.
Fouche loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fouche makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fouche has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Fouche working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Smith's head.
Fouche must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Smith is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fouche is looking to escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith is pressing down on Fouche's thigh, looking to free his foot. Fouche is holding on for now.
Smith seems to have got his legs back now.
Fouche wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fouche is trying to stand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fouche can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Fouche is not content to let Smith control the position.
Fouche tries to kick Smith off but Smith keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Smith decides to stand and escape the position.
Fouche shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Mike Smith is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice uppercut lands for Smith. That snapped Fouche's head back.
Smith displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Fouche.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fouche shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Smith napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fouche working away.
Fouche working the ground and pound.
Fouche landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Smith is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Fouche in side control lands a decent elbow.
Fouche lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fouche is putting a hurting on Smith here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fouche lands an elbow.
Fouche lands an elbow.
Smith takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Fouche scores with a couple of short elbows.
Fouche working the body and head with strikes.
Fouche wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Fouche working the body and head with strikes.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fouche creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
James Fouche is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Fouche wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Fouche comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Fouche has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 26:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 26:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Fouche!